RESEARCH Lessons 1 - 3 (1Q)

Inductive reasoning

"bottom up" approach

Deductive reasoning

"top down" approach

Key objectives of sampling design

- avoidance of bias - attainment of maximum precision

Characteristics of research

- controlled - rigorous - systematic - valid & Verifiable - empirical - critical

Types of research objectives

- descriptive - correlational - explanatory - exploratory

Scientific research

- exploration and observation - gathering and analyzing data - forming and testing hypotheses

Research report

- informs the world of the conclusions of your findings - written in academic style or scientific writing - is divided into chapters or sections based on your study

Collection of data

- involves interviews, questionnaires, conducting nominal/focus group discussions, or making observations - requires ethical clearance

Hypothesis must be

- testable - in the scope of science

Purely descriptive analysis

- use dissertation/report on the basis of your field notes - content analysis

Expectations of research

- within a framework of a set of philosophies - use procedures, methods, and techniques that have been tested for their validity, and reliability - unbiased and objective

Science

Latin for 'knowledge'

Research Proposal

a plan that specifies what information will be obtained and how

Pure research

a type of scientific investigation that seeks to gain knowledge for the sake of knowledge itself

Subjectivity

an integral part of way of thinking

Quantitative research

analytical

Research tools and instruments

anything that becomes a means of collecting information for your study

Qualitative research

authentic (not necessarily value-free)

Inductive reasoning

based on premises

Theory

broader in scope

Explanatory research

clarify why and how there is a relationship between two aspects of a situation or phenomenon

Step 6 of research process

collecting data

Backtracking

compiling a set of all possible solutions

Step 2 of research process

conceptualize research design

Deductive reasoning

conclusion follows from premises (available facts)

Empirical research

conclusions are based upon hard evidence from real life experiences or observations

Valid and verifiable research

conclusions are correct and verifiable

Phase III of research

conducting research study step six to step eight

Step 3 of research process

construct instruments for data collection

Hypothesis

constructed before any research has been done

Phase I of research

deciding what to research step one

Bias

deliberate attempt to conceal or highlight something

Evidence-based practice

delivery of services based upon research evidence about their effectiveness

Accuracy

depends on sample selection

Descriptive research

describe systematically a situation, problem, phenomenon, service, or program or attempts to provide information

Goal of qualitative research

describe variation (perspective)

Quantitative research

discovers regularities/formulates theories

Subjectivity is influenced by

education, discipline, philosophy, experience, and skills

Correlational research

establish the existence of a relationship between two or more aspects of a situation

Controlled experiment

experimental group is compared with control group

Hypothesis

explanation based on observations and assumptions that lead to testable predictions

Qualitative research

explores experiences

Variables

features or quantities that vary in an experiment

Step 1 of research process

formulate research problem

Purely quantitative analysis

frequency distribution, cross-tabulations or other statistical procedures such as regression analysis, factor analysis, and analysis of variance

Theory

general enough to lead to new, testable hypotheses

Deductive reasoning

general to specific

Inductive reasoning

generalizations from data analyses and specific observations

Qualitative research

has fewer cases

Quantitative research

has greater sample size to represent population

Scientific Method

idealized process of inquiry

Exploratory research

investigate the possibilities of undertaking a particular research study

Feasibility study

investigation that gauges the probability of success of a proposed project and provides a rough assessment of the project's feasibility

Pure research

involves developing and testing theories and hypotheses that are intellectually challenging

Process of inquiry

making observations, forming logical hypotheses, and testing them

Controlled research

minimize effects of other factors affecting the relationship between two variables

Hypothesis

more narrow in scope

Qualitative research

narrative

Pure research

no practical application at the present time or in the future

Quantitative data

numerical measurements, tables, graphs

Quantitative research

objective (rationalism)

Phase II of research

planning a research study step two to step five

Systematic research

procedures adopted to undertake an investigation follow a certain logical sequence

Rigorous research

procedures are relevant, appropriate, and justifiable

Critical research

process must be foolproof and free from any drawbacks

Step 7 of research process

processing and displaying data

Biologists rely on

published contributions of fellow scientists or "peer-reviewed publication"

Types of research

pure and applied

Goal of quantitative research

quantify extent of variation, focuses on measurement and classification

Mode of inquiry

quantitative or qualitative

Types of sampling design

random/probability and non random/non probability

Qualitative data

recorded descriptions

Data

recorded observations

Quantitative research

reliable and objective (value-free)

Starting point of research process

research questions / destination

Final line of research process

research steps

Applied research

research techniques, procedures, and methods that form the body of research methodology are applied to the collection of information

Applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Experiment

scientific test carried out under controlled conditions

Inquiry

search for information and explanations of natural phenomena

Step 4 of research process

select samples

Inductive reasoning

specific observations to broader generalizations

Hypothesis

specific prediction based on specific observation

Quantitative research

statistics

Research Design

strategy (or "blueprint") for deciding how to collect and analyze research information.

Quantitative research

structured and predetermined

Qualitative research

subjective (empiricism)

Theory

supported by large body of evidence

Research

the systematic study of materials and sources

Dependent variable

the variable predicted to be affected

Qualitative research

theme/description

Things to consider in research

time, finance, expertise, knowledge

Goal of research

to establish facts and reach new conclusions

Qualitative research

unstructured and flexible

Qualitative research

used to explore the nature of the problem

Field testing

used to test instrument

Deductive reasoning

uses general premises to make specific predictions

Independent variable

variable that is manipulated

Step 5 of research process

write research proposal

Step 8 of research process

writing research report